Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) ACS Grade

Product Overview

Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK), also known as butan-2-one, is a highly effective and fast-evaporating liquid solvent widely utilized across various demanding industrial sectors — critical for precise manufacturing workflows. As a polar organic solvent with the chemical formula C4H8O and a molecular weight of 72.11, this compound is highly valued for its exceptional solvency, low viscosity, and rapid drying characteristics. It serves as an essential medium in the formulation of specialized coatings, adhesives, and printing inks, ensuring uniform application and consistent performance.

Alliance Chemical distributes this high-purity ketone as part of our comprehensive ketones product line to support critical manufacturing and laboratory workflows that require reliable, clean-burning solvents. Our MEK ACS Grade is carefully packaged to maintain its integrity, ensuring that industrial operations receive a product free of unwanted particulates or moisture. This colorless, volatile liquid with its characteristic sharp, sweet odor is ideal for extraction processes, specialized cleaning, and chemical synthesis, providing consistent quality that professionals rely on for high-yield results.

Why This Grade

This product is classified as ACS Grade, meaning it complies with the strict purity standards set by the American Chemical Society. For precision laboratories and highly regulated manufacturing lines, using a lower technical or industrial grade can introduce trace metal contaminants, free acids, or moisture. These impurities disrupt sensitive chemical reactions, cause phase separation in polymers, or lead to unexpected side reactions that compromise final product quality.

Choosing ACS Grade ensures a minimal residue after evaporation, which is critical in analytical applications, surface preparation for aerospace components, and precise synthesis. Using a grade with lower tolerances often results in batch failures, system clogging, or contaminated analytical baselines, leading to costly downtime and reprocessing. Relying on this high-purity solvent guarantees predictable behavior and safeguards sensitive equipment from corrosive or reactive impurities.

Industrial Applications

• Formulation of specialized industrial coatings and lacquers where fast evaporation and high solvency are required for uniform film formation.
• Manufacturing of high-strength adhesives and polyurethane resins, providing the necessary dissolution capability for robust polymer matrices in advanced compounding.
• Precision surface preparation and degreasing of metal parts in aerospace and automotive maintenance to ensure contaminant-free surfaces prior to bonding.
• As a high-purity extraction solvent in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals within controlled laboratory environments.
• Formulation of specialized printing inks, gravure inks, and diluents within the commercial printing industry, ensuring excellent flow properties and rapid drying times.

Hazmat & Shipping

Methyl Ethyl Ketone is classified as a hazardous material for transportation and storage. It is strictly regulated and must be shipped as UN1193, Hazard Class 3, Packing Group II. The proper shipping name is Ethyl methyl ketone. The designated signal word is Danger. Due to these high-hazard classifications, all transport is handled by qualified logistics partners in strict accordance with Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, ensuring compliant, safe delivery directly to your facility.

Personnel handling this chemical must wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) tailored to its specific hazards. Based on the GHS classification hazard statements H225, H319, and H336, operators must wear chemical-resistant nitrile gloves, protective safety goggles, and face shields to prevent contact. Adequate local exhaust ventilation or approved organic vapor respiratory protection is required to prevent inhalation of volatile vapors that cause dizziness. Proper grounding and bonding techniques must be implemented during liquid transfer to mitigate electrostatic ignition hazards.

Handling & Storage

Store this ketone in a cool, dry, well-ventilated location away from direct sunlight, open flames, and ignition sources. Containers must remain tightly sealed when not in use. This product is compatible with stainless steel and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) containers, but can degrade certain plastics and rubbers over time. Avoid contact with strong oxidizing agents, strong acids, and bases, as these incompatible materials can lead to hazardous exothermic reactions. Visit our industrial solvents resource page for chemical compatibility details.

Order & Documentation

Alliance Chemical supports your operational compliance and quality assurance systems by providing comprehensive product documentation. A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is provided with every order to ensure safe handling practices are maintained at your facility. Additionally, we make a Certificate of Analysis (COA) available upon request for every batch shipped. To secure your supply of high-purity solvents, please Request a Quote or Download the SDS.

Why Buy from Alliance Chemical

Since 1997, Alliance Chemical has been a trusted Texas supplier (CAGE Code 1LT50), providing high-purity chemicals with a COA included, offering same-day shipping on orders placed before 2PM CT, for industrial use only.